Hurricanes v Brumbies, Super Rugby R13 2012

[Slim 293]

I think it's the right decision to go with Holmes...​

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I'm in two minds about giving Nic White the rest for this game...​

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Yes, it's probably about time he was rotated with Prior, but his playmaking skills are definitely needed with Lilo's injury...​

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However, I would assume it would only be for a game to keep him fresh...​

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Brumbies entrust playmaker role to young gun Holmes​

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Chris Dutton​

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May 16, 2012​

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/brumbies-entrust-playmaker-role-to-young-gun-holmes-20120515-1ypeg.html#ixzz1uwoVTtbD​

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They tried to lure Wallabies great Stephen Larkham out of retirement and signed veteran point-scoring ace Peter Hewat, but the ACT Brumbies will put their faith in a Super Rugby rookie to take the flyhalf reins on Friday night.​

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First-year playmaker Zack Holmes will be thrown into the Brumbies No.10 guernsey for their clash with the Wellington Hurricanes in New Zealand.​

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Holmes has won a three-way battle to get the first chance to fill the void left by Christian Lealiifano, who suffered a season-ending broken leg two weeks ago.​

Advertisement: Story continues below​

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Holmes, Hewat and Robbie Coleman all trained at flyhalf this week.​

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But with 34-year-old former NSW Waratah Hewat only joining the team three days ago and with Coleman adding versatile punch from the bench, Holmes won the chance to direct the Brumbies around the field.​

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Former Australian sevens player Holmes is in his debut Super Rugby season and has seen limited game time from the bench this year.​

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But in his brief appearances the lightning quick 21-year-old has shown glimpses of his potential at the top level.​

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The Brumbies are expected to make just one other change to their back line with scrumhalf Nic White being rotated to the bench and Ian Prior stepping into the starting XV.​

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Lealiifano's absence is a massive blow for the young Brumbies as they attempt to win three games in a row for the first time in two years.​

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He was the chief playmaker, the goal kicker and an on-field leader.​

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Holmes is an accurate goal kicker, but the youngster's ball skills will be put to the test against the eighth-placed Hurricanes.​

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Meanwhile, Brumbies hooker Siliva Siliva hopes he can end his injury woes and be fit to play against Wales at Canberra Stadium on June 12. Siliva's Super Rugby career was halted when he had a knee reconstruction at the end of last year.​

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And just three games into his comeback in Canberra's premier division, Siliva damaged ligaments in his ankle which will keep the former Australian under-20s rake out of action for another month.​

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Extended player squad member Anthony Hegarty has stepped up in Siliva's absence to be Stephen Moore's back-up.​

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But the 20-year-old is targeting a return against Wales and then wants to make his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies.​

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''It's been very frustrating,'' Siliva said. ''It's been a tough 10 months but I just want to work hard, stay strong and get back as fast as I can.​

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''My goal is to just play a Super Rugby game before the season is over so I can get the feel of it and be fully ready and prepared for next year.''​

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Brumbies prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa will fly to Fiji today to join the national team after being granted an international release to play for his home country.​

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FRIDAY​

Super Rugby round 13: Wellington Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 5.35pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 3.​

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LIKELY BRUMBIES TEAM​

1. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Dan Palmer, 4. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Ben Mowen, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Fotu Auelua, 9. Ian Prior, 10. Zack Holmes, 11. Joseph Tomane, 12. Pat McCabe, 13. Andrew Smith, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Jesse Mogg.​

Reserves: 16. Anthony Hegarty, 17. Ruaidhri Murphy, 18. Peter Kimlin, 19. Ita Vaea, 20. Nic White, 21. Robbie Coleman, 22. Tevita Kuridrani.​

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Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/brumbies-entrust-playmaker-role-to-young-gun-holmes-20120515-1ypeg.html#ixzz1uwoMCPvG​

 

[Slim 293]

Bret Harris adds this little bit...

Holmes really only has to play a catch, pass and back-up role for the Brumbies.
It was Lealiifano's running game that was so effective for the Brumbies and Holmes can play a similar role.
Halfback Nic White will act as the Brumbies' chief tactical decision-maker and continue to do most of the kicking in general play along with fullback Jesse Mogg.

And that's why I hope Nic White starts...
He and Lilo acted as dual playmakers and now with Lilo gone White becomes a crucial element to the backline...

 

[Lee Grant]

It will be interesting to see how Zack Holmes goes for the Brumbies. I first saw him as a West Australian playing flyhalf for the Combined States schools team about 5 years ago with 15. DHP and 8. Talalelei Grey, both now of Biarritz.

He looked like one for the future as he was a very neat player who knew how to use the ball and was damn quick for a 10. The only thing going against him was that he was so small.

I next saw him playing 10 and wing for Northern Suburbs in Sydney. The schools attributes were still there at the senior level and though he was still short, he had thickened out. He looked a chance for a Super squad because of his versatility, speed and goal kicking, but who could tell how well he could play 2 levels up in Super rugby without an intermediate ARC to measure him by?

We are about to find out when he has his first starting game. It would be better to start him with Nic White so as not to have two changes in the halves. If Prior starts it will be a bigger test for both players which could be a negative, or a happy positive.

Worth a watch, this point.
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[laps]

Well let me say one thing about his goal kicking. He missed about 4-5 goals when Vikings vs easts. He isn't a great kicker from what I saw...

As for dropping White, you're kidding... Rotation or not, he was man of the match vs Tahs...

Really dissapointed that White/Coleman won't be starting...

On the plus side, we only really need to keep beating Aussie teams to get through, so it could be a good tactic...?

Regardless, I haven't rated Hurricanes all year. The only thing they are really good at is counter-attack tries through taylor. If we can eliminate his presence on the game, we will win. All other backs are a good matchup, and we can easily match them in the forwards.

 

[Ghibli]

Winning is NZ is very difficult for a number of reasons (including the sometime different refs' interpretation of scrum & breakdown plays).
Good decision to go with Holmes, saw him playing a few minutes vs the Sharks (or Highlanders?) and he really impressed me - good decision making under pressure, and huge kicking in play game, we'll need that if White is rested.
For me Holmes has the attributes of a top level No 10, we gotta give him playing time for him to develop in an asset for the future.
After the injuries to Tomua and Lilo, you'd think this is the time to do so.

 

[Dean Hyde]

Teams for Fridays match.

Brumbies team
1. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Dan Palmer, 4. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 6. Ben Mowen, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Fotu Auelua, 9. Ian Prior, 10. Zack Holmes, 11. Joseph Tomane, 12. Pat McCabe, 13. Andrew Smith, 14. Henry Speight, 15. Jesse Mogg. Reserves: 16. Anthony Hegarty, 17. Ruaidhri Murphy, 18. Peter Kimlin, 19. Ita Vaea, 20. Nic White, 21. Robbie Coleman, 22. Tevita Kuridrani.
Hurricanes team
1. Reggie Goodes, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Ben May, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Jason Eaton, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Karl Lowe, 8. Victor Vito, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Tusi Pisi, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Tim Bateman, 13. Conrad Smith, 14. Cory Jane, 15. Andre Taylor. Reserves: 16. Motu Matu’u, 17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18. James Broadhurst, 19. Jack Lam, 20. Chris Eaton, 21. Beauden Barrett, 22. Jayden Hayward

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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/b...ldron-clash-20120516-1yqjc.html#ixzz1v17eXNXw​

 

[Bowside]

Brumbies pack looking strong.

 

[Dean Hyde]

Foward bench players have done quite well this year also. Vaea has looked alot better at 8 rather than 7. The wrecking ball combo of Vaea and Fotu has worked well in the few games they have played together

 

[Allsports]

In Jake the Brumbies & fans must trust & I know he'll need a strong run to get his young side into the finals but it must start now !!
Resting Nic White after his MOTM performance against the Tahs & a weeks rest isn't making much sense but I'm no world title coach, the kid is only 21yrs old I don't think he's exhusted yet, quite the opposite I would imagine, hope it doesn't come back to bite you Brumbies.
Good luck tho to Zack Holmes, I wish him well.

 

[Bowside]

Foward bench players have done quite well this year also. Vaea has looked alot better at 8 rather than 7. The wrecking ball combo of Vaea and Fotu has worked well in the few games they have played together

It's a generally strong pack - both starting and bench. The only unproven player is the reserve hooker hegarty.

 

[Blue]

Winning is NZ is very difficult for a number of reasons (including the sometime different refs' interpretation of scrum & breakdown plays).

Huh? same refs. So the same ref would interpret those differently over there? I think not.

 

[Slim 293]

Who's the ref for this one?

 

[Lee Grant]

Mark Lawrence

 

[Brumbieman]

I think its a good move starting Prior. We'd be mad to take the Canes on in the backs, we need to smash them up front and grind them into the mud. Prior is much better than White at organising the forwards, and I think that may give a hint as to our game plan for this match. I'd wager we'll see lots of rolling mauls, and pick and go's, and only when we have the Canes in disarray will they send it wide.

 

[Viking]

i think you might be onto something Brumbieman. And with Lealifano gone you'd think the back-line wouldn't be as lethal, so you'd want to grind them up front before risking giving it to the backs.

 

[Chronicle]

I think its a good move starting Prior. We'd be mad to take the Canes on in the backs, we need to smash them up front and grind them into the mud. Prior is much better than White at organising the forwards, and I think that may give a hint as to our game plan for this match. I'd wager we'll see lots of rolling mauls, and pick and go's, and only when we have the Canes in disarray will they send it wide.

Thought White has been very good at organising the forwards this season the 17 phase drive against the Tahs for Andrew Smiths try was strong evidence of a halfback in control. His performance in the Shute Shield grandfinal for 100 mins in greasy conditions against a forward pack of Super Rugby quality indicates strong organising skills

 

[Slim 293]

I would bet that Jake had pencilled in White for a rest with this match before Lilo went down to keep the rotation happening...

He'll probably start again the following week, and probably finish off the season that way...

 

[laps]

Very confident. Would have preferred White/Coleman but lets see what we can do...

 

[mudskipper]

I have a feeling you'll see a Prior/Holmes first half (as they've been working together as a back up combo) and depending on their success see a White/Coleman combo in the second half... As a Brumbies fan I like that Jake backs all his lads, it must make guys feel like they're always a chance to get a start if they put in the work... I wish Prior and Zac all the best and will be eagerly watching... perhaps Jake sees more value in White as a utility player at either 12 or 15...

 

[Nusadan]

Anyone know why Beauden Barrett has been benched for the Hurricanes?

And who's the new goalkicker then pls?

And also for the Brumbies...?

EDIT: Either Andre Taylor or Barrett's replacement, Pisi to do the honours, Barrett 'rested'... http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/6935753/Hammett-takes-calculated-gamble-with-Canes